Commemorative logo allows Preds to look forward and back

The NHL’s 2012-13 season will end this week — perhaps as soon as Monday night — with the conclusion of the Stanley Cup final series between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

The Nashville Predators, though, decided to get a jump on the next one.

The team released a 15th anniversary logo Monday, which will be featured throughout the 2013-14 campaign. The logo is the start of a multi-media initiative to focus on and celebrate the franchise’s history over the coming months.

“When we started this franchise 15 years ago, we did so with a vision of how to create a successful product and grow the sport of hockey," president of hockey operations/general manager David Poile said in a statement. “We've come a long ways toward attaining those goals in that time, and we owe it to the city of Nashville and our loyal fans to celebrate 15 years of memories and milestones.”

The Predators kicked off the NHL’s most recent wave of expansion when they began competition in the 1998-99 season. The Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) joined the league the following year and the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild came on board in 2000-01.

Because of the lockout implemented by owners that canceled the entire 2004-05, Nashville has played just 14 seasons thus far.

The team has made the playoffs in half of those seasons, including four in a row beginning in 2003-04, the year before the lockout. It has won 519 of its 1,114 all-time regular-season games and has earned at least one point in 667 (59.9 percent).

“The first 15 years of Nashville Predators history has been highlighted by memorable moments and popular individuals both on and off the ice,” president/COO Sean Henry said. “We look forward to sharing these stories throughout the 2013-2014 season with the most important group from our first 15 years, our Loyal Legion — our fans — as we look toward more great moments in 2013-14 and beyond.”